Dr. Manoranjan D'Souza

Dr. D’Souza joined the faculty in the College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in 2013. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on identifying neural mechanisms that play a role in the development of drug dependence. Dr. D’Souza has authored several peer-reviewed original scientific papers and review articles on neural mechanisms of drugs of abuse.

Major curricular areas:

Neuropharmacology

Drug addiction

Professional Experience:

Medical Advisor: Lupin pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India (2001)

Education:

M.D.: Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, University of Mumbai (2001)

Ph.D.: College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin (2007)

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego (2007-2013)

Teaching Interests:

Neuropharmacology

Neurobiology of drug addiction

Neurobiology of neuropsychiatric disorders

Awards:

New Investigator grant (2016-2017) awarded by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP); Title of project: Role of kappa opioid receptors in specific brain regions in the aversive effects of nicotine

Benett, Bower and Bower summer research grant (2015-2016) awarded by the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University; Title of the project: Kappa opioid receptors and aversive effects of nicotine.

Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (2010-2013) awarded by State of California; Title of the project: AMPA receptors and extinction of nicotine seeking.

Bruce-Jones Graduate Fellowship (2003-2006) awarded by the Waggoner Center of Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas, Austin, TX; Title of the project: Dopamine and cocaine-associative learning.

Affiliations:

2004-present: Society for Neuroscience (SFN)

2008-present: American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)

2013-present: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

2015-present: College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP)

Research Interests:

Neurobiology of drug addiction

Development of translational animal models for drug addiction research

Understanding the role of stress and psychiatric disorders in the development of drug addiction

Dr. D’Souza’s laboratory is focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate the rewarding effects of nicotine, a major psychoactive component of tobacco smoke. The rewarding effects of nicotine play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of tobacco smoking behavior.

In addition, Dr. D’Souza is interested in identifying specific neural circuits that play a role in the learning and extinction of nicotine-associated environmental cues. Nicotine-associated environmental cues play an important role in relapse amongst abstinent smokers. The laboratory uses a combination of behavioral, molecular and neurochemical techniques in rodent models of nicotine dependence to achieve the above goals. The overall goal of the laboratory is to identify specific targets that can be used for the discovery of new medications, which will promote smoking cessation and prevent relapse in abstinent smokers.

D’Souza MS and Markou A (2014) Differential role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated glutamate transmission in nucleus accumbens shell and core in nicotine seeking in rats. European Journal of Neuroscience 39(8):1314-22. PMID:24467279

D’Souza MS (2014). “Comorbidity of drug addiction with mental illness”. Invited lecture at the Continuing Law Education (CLE) seminar at the Petite College of Law at Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.

D’Souza MS (2014). “Heroin addiction” Invited talk at the Stark County Law enforcement seminar. Invited by the Stark County (Ohio) Chief Prosecutor. This was part of the continued training of law enforcement officers held at R.G. Drake Center, Stark County, Ohio.

D’Souza MS (2013). “Methamphetamine addiction”. Invited lecture at the Continuing Law Education (CLE) seminar at the Petite College of Law at Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.

D’Souza MS (2013). “Understanding dopamine, glutamate and acetylcholine interactions in nicotine dependence using animal models”. Oral presentation as part of a symposium at the 52nd Annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology held in Florida Dec 8-12 at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida.

D’Souza MS (2012). “Blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens increases nicotine-seeking behavior in rats- Does the development of an anhedonia-like state play a role?” Oral presentation as part of a symposium at the 18th annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco in Houston, Texas.

D’Souza MS (2011). “N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens shell or core regulates nicotine reinforcement and nicotine-seeking behavior in rats. Oral presentation as part of a Data Blitz session at the ‘Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as Therapeutic Targets: Emerging Frontiers in Basic Research & Clinical Science’, 3rd satellite meeting to the Society for Neuroscience held on Nov 9-11 in Washington D.C.